If you travel often, spend big on luxury stays or flights, and want premium perks from a credit card, then the Kotak Solitaire Credit Card might catch your eye. This card aims to solve the problem of “I spend a lot overseas or on hotels/air-travel, can my card give me more than just points?” It offers travel-centric rewards, metal-card status, and lounge access. In this Kotak Solitaire credit card review, you’ll learn how the card stacks up in 2025: what benefits it truly delivers, what fees and catches to watch out for, who should apply (and who shouldn’t), and whether it offers value for money.
Kotak Solitaire Credit Card Review: Quick Overview
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Card issuer | Kotak Mahindra Bank (Kotak Bank) |
| Annual fee | ₹ 25,000 + GST (but waived for clients of the Kotak “Solitaire” banking programme) |
| Welcome bonus | None clearly stated (invite-only) |
| Best for | Frequent travellers, high spenders, luxury seekers |
| Comparison table | |
| Key features | 10 Air Miles per ₹100 on flights & hotels via Kotak’s “Unbox” platform; 3 Air Miles per ₹100 on other eligible spends. Unlimited domestic & international lounge access for primary & add-on cardholders. Zero forex mark-up on international spends. Special hotel stay offers (at partner hotels) and fuel surcharge waiver. |
Kotak Solitaire Credit Card Benefits
Cashback/Rewards
- On travel bookings made via the Kotak Unbox platform (flights + hotels), the card earns 10 Air Miles for every ₹100 spent.
- On other eligible spends (excluding many categories such as fuel, utilities, rent, international spends), it earns 3 Air Miles per ₹100.
- Redemption: Each Air Mile is worth ₹1 when used for flight/hotel bookings on Kotak Unbox. For other redemption like vouchers/merchandise, value drops (₹0.50 per mile), and only up to 80% of the booking value can be covered by miles.
- Transfer options: Air Miles can be transferred to partner airlines/hotels at fixed ratios (for example, 2:1 for many airlines, 3:1 for Marriott) — though the transfer value may vary.
Note: The high reward rate applies only when you use the bank’s own platform (Kotak Unbox) for travel bookings. That restriction limits flexibility for some users.
Travel benefits (if any)
- Unlimited domestic airport lounge access for primary and add-on cardholders.
- Unlimited international airport lounge access for primary and add-on cardholders.
- Guest lounge visits: Two domestic + two international guest visits per year.
- Zero foreign-exchange mark-up (i.e., no extra charges on overseas spending). This is a major plus for international travellers.
- Hotel stay perks: At partner hotels like ITC Hotels, Elivaas Villas, and Alaya Stays, you may get benefits like 50% off the second night, complimentary third night, etc.
Shopping/Partner offers
- Fuel surcharge waiver: 1% waiver on fuel transactions between ₹400 and ₹7,500 (maximum waiver up to ~₹10,000 per anniversary year) for eligible users.
- The card is metal in design (premium look & feel) for invite-only high-net-worth customers.
EMI/Big spend perks
- The features are more travel- and luxury-spend oriented rather than focusing on EMI schemes or big spend milestones. There is no major milestone waiver disclosed.
- Cash withdrawal (ATM) fee: 1% of the amount withdrawn. Interest-free only till the statement due date.
Kotak Solitaire Credit Card Charges
- Annual fee: ₹25,000 + GST. For customers of Kotak’s Solitaire banking programme, the annual fee is waived.
- Joining/activation fee: None clearly stated (no separate joining fee) for standard users, but since it is invite-only, eligibility is already a barrier.
- Interest rate (APR): Finance charge is ~3.5% per month (~42% annualised) on outstanding balances.
- Late payment fee: For example, balance >₹500 to ₹5,000 → ₹500; >₹5,000 to ₹10,000 → ₹600; >₹25,000 → ₹1,000; >₹50,000 → ₹1,200.
- Forex markup: Nil. That means no extra charge for spending in foreign currency.
- Cash advance / ATM withdrawal fee: 1% of the amount. No interest until payment due date (but ideally avoid).
- Fuel surcharge waiver: 1% waiver for fuel spends between ₹400-₹7,500; cap ~₹10,000 per year. But note: many fuel spends do not earn rewards.
Kotak Solitaire Credit Card Review: Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Unlimited domestic & international lounge access for primary & add-on cardholders — a major perk for frequent flyers.
- Excellent travel-oriented rewards on flights & hotels via Kotak Unbox (10 Air Miles/₹100) if you qualify and use the platform.
- Zero forex markup makes it very attractive for overseas spending.
- High-value redemption and good transfer partner options for rewards.
- Premium metal card feel, inviting status for HNIs.
Cons:
- Very high annual fee (₹25,000+) unless you are already in the Kotak Solitaire banking programme.
- Strong restrictions: an invite-only card, so you can’t simply apply, and accelerated rewards apply only via the Kotak Unbox platform.
- Many exclusion categories for rewards: fuel, utilities, rent, international spends (for rewards earning) may not earn Air Miles.
- Lacks some lifestyle perks compared to other premium cards (like golf lessons, dining credits, high welcome bonus), as per some reviewers.
- For non-travel spends, you get only 3 Air Miles/₹100, which is modest given the fee.
Who Should Apply for the Kotak Solitaire Credit Card?
Best for:
- Frequent domestic and international travellers who book flights and hotels and can leverage lounge access and zero forex mark-up.
- High spenders who already maintain a strong relationship with Kotak Bank (Solitaire programme) so the annual fee is waived. This makes the card significantly more attractive.
- Luxury-focused consumers who value premium status, metal card, hotel stay perks, and are comfortable managing prestige-class banking.
Not ideal for:
- Casual spenders or people who do not travel much. The high fee is hard to justify without heavy usage of perks.
- Those who don’t use the Kotak Unbox platform or will not hit significant travel spends via the prescribed channel.
- People focused on fuel/utility/everyday small spends – many of those categories are excluded from earning top rewards.
- Users who want maximum rewards on all purchases with minimal fuss – other cards may be a better value.
How to Apply for Kotak Solitaire Credit Card
Eligibility criteria:
- Invitation-only: This card is typically offered to clients of Kotak’s “Solitaire” banking programme.
- The Solitaire banking programme requires a high net-worth relationship with Kotak: for example, salaried individuals with a ₹75 lakh+ relationship value or self-employed individuals with a ₹1 crore+.
- Strong credit history and spending capability will likely be expected, given the premium nature of the card.
Documents required:
- Standard identity proof (PAN, Aadhaar, or other government ID)
- Address proof
- Income proof or relationship value proof with the bank (for the Solitaire programme)
- Existing banking relationship details with Kotak (for invite eligibility)
Link to apply:
Since the card is invite-only, there is no general “apply now” button for the public. If you’re already a Solitaire banking client, your relationship manager at Kotak may invite you or provide application details.
FAQs about Kotak Solitaire Credit Card
Kotak Solitaire Credit Card Review: Verdict
If you travel frequently, spend substantially on flights/hotels, and already hold (or are eligible for) the Kotak Solitaire banking programme, then the Kotak Solitaire Credit Card is a strong value proposition. With unlimited lounge access, zero forex mark-up, and solid reward redemptions, it can easily offset the annual fee (especially if waived).
On the flip side, if you don’t hit high travel spends, don’t use the Kotak Unbox platform, or simply use credit cards for everyday spending, this card may not offer the best return. The high annual fee and reward exclusions make it a niche pick.
If you shop a lot on flights/hotels via Kotak Unbox and travel internationally often, this card could save you several tens of thousands of rupees yearly. If not, it might be better to explore a lower-fee card instead.
